The Year 2000 Photo Countdown is an alliance between Everything 2000 and the Millennium Picture Group, a nationwide partnership of photojournalists. Each weekday, the Everything 2000 Web site will feature a new image documenting how people and institutions are preparing for year 2000.

Every year, Seattle's Space Needle is lit up in the shape of a Christmas tree at the very tip-top of the needle. Getting those lights up on top of the structure is a dangerous yet exciting job for Butch Becker who is joined by Everything2000's Karen Shomo. Becker has been climbing to the top of the needle for years now making sure Seattle's landmark gets into the Christmas spirit. Becker has to drag more than 20 strings of lights over his neck, and then harness himself on top of the needle so he can drape them from the beam on top. The lights will be part of the Space Needle's New Year's Eve celebration which will include a blast of fireworks that will write out "2000" in the sky.

Photo courtesy of Karen Shomo

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